There seems to be a correlation here....nutrition on limited forage (monocultures) is affecting colony success...the landscape has changed.

Response:

I may add to what Peter mentioned. In recent years bees are used more and more for pollination of more than one crop. Honey production in pollinating fields is always low due to high density of hives per acre. Moreover, whenever we see a spike of increased hive numbers, splitting hives to increase the number of colonies could impact honey production. Cropping system and crop prices are another factor to consider. Farmers grow high cash crops to increase their income. Some of these crops are not good for bees. For example replacing clover with canola will reduce honey production from two peaks of bloom to only one. Another example farmers start cutting clover when it is at 10% bloom to maintain high nutritional value of hay. This of course will impact honey production etc.

It would be interesting to compare historical honey yield data and number of hives in Midwest USA before and after corn acreage expansion.


Medhat Nasr
Edmonton Alberta


This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the system manager. This message contains confidential information and is intended only for the individual named. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail.

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html